New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-25
PROHIBITION 4 FIXTURE IN MINE

PROHIBITION 4 Failure IN MINE
1t speaks well for the candor of The Voice
that it is apparently trying to get at the truth
as to Prohibition in Maine, and that il is pub
fishing the information without regard to its
bearing upon tho theory of which that Journal
is the organ. 1.-The Voice has been putting
questions 10 representative men ia Bangor as
to the enforcement there Of the prohibitoIy
law as TO the reasons for its non-enforccmcnt
if it is not enforced rs to the prospect for sup
port Of enforcement by tho sentiment Of the
community and as TO the propriety of enforcing
the law. "Thc Voice prints answers from
eighteen persons-olergymen, physicians and
lawyers for the most part, They agree in say
ing that the prohibitory law is not enforced.
They do not agree in the reasons for non en-
forcement. They differ widely a to the Icadi-
ness Of public sentiment TO support the law.
1t is in the answers to this third question that
the most suggestive and significant statements
are made. Let US remember that Maine has
had thirty years experience of prohibtory
legislation, and that the most stringent and
drastic statutes over framed anywhere for the
purpose of preventing the public from drinking
by force and compulsion have been tested in
that State with fidelity and ngor which must
have evolved whatever virtues those statutes
possessed 1t is after n generation Of this kind
Of legislation that many Intelligent Observers
think it impossible to secure public support
for further enforcement Of Prohibition.
The Rev. Joseph Smith says to The Voice;
ITO tho question whether public sentiment
would sanction vigorous enforcement of the
prohibitory law. | can only give n qualified
answer He thinks the women would support
the law if they had political standing, and per
haps the majority Of men might if they were
not controlled by political considerations. The
inference, of course, is that popular conviction
on the merits Of Prohibition has undergone q
reaction, since II the Old enthusiasm survived
il would master politics and not be mastered
by them. j. A. Clough NJ. d., says: 81
do not believe that the sentiment Of the com
munty in Bangor would sustain or favor the
enforcement Of the prohibitory law H. c.
Goodcnow, lawyer, thinks that public opinion
most likely could be easily educated by m-
dcious enforcement of the law up TO the point
Of favorng such judicious enforcement" OF
course this is nonsense II quarter Of cen
tury of experiment in Prohibition has not
educated public opinion TO a belief in tho
doctrine no further "judcious enforcement
is likely TO change the general opinion on the
subject This correspondent really gives away
he case Of the Prohibitionists. Matthew Laugh
lin lawyer believes that d" rs an abstract qucs-
tom a majority of the citizens Of Bangor arc
in favor of the suppression of the liquor traffic
by the strong arm Of the law. "But viewing the
question from practical point of view Che con-
tinucs) can safely say that but a small part Of
the citizens Of Bangor wish to see revival Of
'Jcwardism.' as they call it. Jcward was
the sheriff who attempted rigid enforcement
Of the law y This correspondent thinks the
majority would favor a high license law with
local option, and this also is significant.
j. d. Warren, lawyer, says 81 do not be-
lcve the enforcement Of the law could be sus-
tancd.7 Sumner Laughton NJ. d.. is of opin
ion that d" side from the political elements
public sentiment would sustain enforcement
but it would be rather weak -knecd about cleo
ton times" Which is to say that public senti-
ment would not sustain enforcement at the
polls, the only place where effective support
could be given to it. George 2. Jefferis, NJ d..
holds that majority of the voters could not
be got to sustain enforcement OF the law. Pere
giino White, lawyer, observes 81 do not be
lieve the sentiment Of this community would
sustain such a movement (for enforcement Of
Prohibition). And hc holds that "public sem
timent, while it is undoubtedly In accord with
the temperance movement on general princi-
pies, is not up to the fanatical requirements
of the prohibitory law, and although the law
has not only become organic with us, but was
actually hero originated it has never been fairly
lived up TO and In all human probability never
will be'
u appears clearly from these varied